Improvement in breech-loading ordnance



W. F. GOODWIN. Breech-Loading Ordnance.

No. 35,311. I Patented May 20, 1862.

I I I l v UNTTET) STATES ATENT Tricia-i.

\VILLIAM F, GOODVVIN, OF POWVHATTAN, OHIO.

lMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35.32MB, dated May 20, 1862.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. GooDwIN, of Powhattan, in the county of Belmont and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Fire- Arms; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an isometrical perspective view of my improved gun, showing the breech open, a cartridge-case being inserted in the rear end of the barrel. Figs. 2 and 8 are. respectively side elevation and plan view of the rear part of the gun, showing the breech closed. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail views of parts of the breech and of the cartridge-case, together with its adjustable spring-handle.

My invention consists, first, in the method herein described of constructing, arranging, and operating the breech of breechloading ordnance or firearms by so forming the rear part of the barrel as to present an outer cylindrical surface, and by combining therewith a breechpiece having an inner surface conforming and concentric with and sliding upon the said barrel, in the manner and for the purposes hereinafter set forth; second,in the method of locking the breech-piece with and unlocking it from the rear end of the barrel by means of one or more keys passing through the breech and entering recesses in the barrel, as hereinafter described, and by combining with said keys a system of levers arranged in relation to the breech-handle and the said keys so as to operate the latter in the act of depressing the breech by grasping the handle, as hereinafter set forth; third, the method hereinafter described of constructing the breech-piece in three parts under the arrangement set forth, and when combined with wedges or keys to tighten the breech,and thus insure perfect frictional contact of the breech andthe barrel; fourth, in the combinati0n,with a cartridgecase countersunk in the barrel, and provided with a capbearing nipple, of the sliding percussion-rod in the breech, operated by hammer and trigger, substantially as hereinafter set forth; fifth, in providing the sides of the rear end of the barrel with trunnions upon which to hang the breech, in combination with thesteps or projection and grooves,in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

is made square at thetop and sides, its end being formed cylindrically, presenting a rear curved surface. The sides a a, Fig. 3, are provided with bearings or trunnions Z) Z),(see Fig. 6,) for the attachment thereto of the movable breech A A. The bearings of the trunnions are multiplied by means of concentric grooves, producing, as it were, two or more concentric trunnions, whereby additional strength is at tained in the attachment of the movable parts of the breech to the barrel, and thus better withstand the concussion or strain attending the discharge of the gun. The curved surface in the rear end of the barrel is cylindrical, its axis coinciding with that of the trunnions b b. The bore of the gun is enlarged in the rear part, its diameter being sufficiently large to admit of a cartridge-case of suitable capacity for the size of the gun. The closed end of this case is curved on the outside, to conform with the general surface of the rear end of the barrel, and is furthermore provided at its center with. a nipple intended to bear a cap for the explosion of the charge contained in the case. In the rear part of the barrel are out two holes or recesses that are diametrically opposite and opening into the aperture provided for the cartridgecase, the object of which is to allow the case to be withdrawn from the chamber by means of tongues or fingers or other gripping device for seizing and holding the case. (See Fig. 5.)

The movable breech is formed of three parts. (Markedin the drawings as A, A, and B.) The latter,which is the middle piece, is adjustable in relation to the former by means of keys or wedges e 6, so as to fit it to the cylindrical surface of the rear part of the barrel. This middle piece is shaped into the form of a T, the stem extending backward, and is confined between the side pieces, A A, by means of abolt To enable others skilled in the art to make I or bolts, 9, Fig. 3,while the top and cross piece are curved to conform with the rear part of the barrel. The keys or wedges, by being driven down,have a tendency to force the curved part of the middle piece forward, to establish perfect contact with the barrel end. The curved surface at the rear end of the barrel is formed upon a segment of a circle the center of which is the axis of the trunnions. If the segment on the rear end of the barrel be about one-half of a circle, then that of the breech-piece should be about one-fourth of a circle, or as much of a segment or part of a circle as may be necesr ry toiallow the movable breech A toumove up and down, and give room to insert or to withdraw the cartridge-case into or from the chamber in the bore of the gun or barrel.

The movable breech A is provided with a handle, M, for working the breech by depressing or fitting it at pleasure. Upon this handle are arranged the hammer N and trigger O, for exploding the cap in the cartridgecase. This is done in the following manner: Centrally and corresponding with the axis of the bore of the gun there is a rod, Q, passing through the breech-piece. This rod, although held away from the cap by a crossbar, P, that also couples the two keys for locking the breech, is capa ble of play back and forth in the direction of its length when struck by the hammer, the blow of which is thus imparted to the cap.

On either side of the handle are arranged, upon fulcra w, levers to operate spring-keys K K,whose functionit is to enter and lock in with the recesses 3 and z in the rear part of the barrel, and to which already reference has been made in connection with the withdrawal and insertion of the case. These keys are operated by a spring-handle, S, arranged in relation to the handle M so that in the act of depressing the breech the handle S shall operate the keys, and thus release their grasp on the barrel.

Having thus described my invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, I claim- 1. The method of locking the breech-piece with and unlocking it from the rear end of the barrel by means of one or more keys passing through the breech and entering recesses in the barrel, asherein described, and by combining with said keys a system of levers arranged in relation to the breech-handle and the said keys so as to operate the latter in the act of de* pressing the breech by grasping the handle, as herein set forth. i

2. The method described of constructing the breech-piece in three parts under the arrange ment set forth, and when combined with wedges or keys to tighten the breech, and thus insure perfect frictional contact of the breech and the barrel.

3. Providing the sides of the rearend of the barrel with trunnions upon which to hang the breech, in combination with the steps or projections and grooves, in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

WM. F. GOODWIN.

WVitnesses:

A. POLLAK,

EDM. F. BROWN. 

